In late 2007, when the Fraser Institute published the first study on corporate welfare, the tally between April 1, 1994 and March 31, 2004 amounted to $144 billion. Two years later, we have statistics up to March 31, 2007; the total now stands at $202.7 billion. Canadian governments distributed subsidies worth $202.7 billion to businesses between April 1, 1994 and March 31, 2007.

The Economic Freedom of the Arab World: 2009 Annual Report compares and ranks Arab nations in five economic freedom areas: size of government; commercial and economic law and security of property rights; access to sound money; freedom to trade internationally, and the regulation of credit, labour, and business.

This paper explores the question of whether mineral resource wealth is an economic blessing or curse, particularly for developing nations where growth and reduction of poverty are vital. It does this by examining the relationship between natural resources and economic growth and the interaction between institutions and natural resources.